India's Suguna signs up to Smart for the future

by
5m Editor

5 June 2006, at 12:00am

THE NETHERLANDS - Suguna Poultry Farm has signed a long-term agreement with Dutch hatchery technology company Pas Reform for the supply of its Smart incubation system at four hatcheries in India. The agreement was signed with Managing Director Mr. B. Soundararajan to include four hatchery sites at Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnatka and Andra Pradesh, for the exclusive supply of SmartSet™ setters, SmartHatch™ hatchers, SmartDrive™ incubator control systems and SmartCenter™ hatchery information systems.

Suguna is one of India’s leading poultry companies, with a steadily increasing global presence. Having successfully established operations in the Middle East through a joint venture with Supreme Foods Co. Limited, the company is now poised for expansion into the Japanese market with the supply of specialised poultry meat products.

“Suguna is India’s pioneer in the export of broiler products, processed at a plant jointly owned with Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Food Co. Limited in the southern town of Udumalpet”, comments Mr. Soundararajan. “The plant started operations two years ago, and with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes per month, we now ship over 500 tonnes of chicken meat to the Middle East every month.”

“Extensive trials with Pas Reform Incubation Systems over the past two years have”, says Mr. Suresh Subramanyan, Hatchery Manager, “resulted in significantly improved post-hatch performance in terms of FCR and increased hatchability in comparable batches. The company raises Ross birds, and has seen marked improvements in day old chick uniformity since installing the Pas Reform’s incubation system”.

“Our intention now,” says Mr. Soundararajan, “is to roll-out a programme of upgrades to existing hatcheries, as well as the development of several new green field projects, over the next couple of years.

“Pas Reform’s engineering and project management team planned the layout of our original single-stage incubation system at Palamaner in Andhra Pradesh at the beginning of 2004 – and that will be replicated at multiple sites throughout India now, to ensure that we are well prepared to realise aggressive plans for growth by 2010.”

Aside from continuing to work with Suguna in the planning and installation of its new Smart incubation systems, Pas Reform’s Academy, under the direction of Martin ‘Tiny’ Barten, senior hatchery management specialist, will provide a comprehensive and ongoing training programme to optimize single-stage system hatchery management practices.

“This new agreement is pivotal for Pas Reform,” explains Mr. Bart Aangenendt, president of the Dutch hatchery technology company. “The Indian market is one of enormous growth potential, where rapid changes are taking place - and we are privileged to be entering it with such a dynamic and committed partner.

“As a forward-thinking and aggressive player, Suguna’s firm focus on the future has created a demanding environment in which to prove Smart’s credentials”.

“We look forward to working alongside Suguna over the next few years, to contribute to their aggressive plans for growth – and to further our own ambitions for expansion in this promising market.”